Effectiveness of a structured exercise intervention in gestational weight gain in pregnant women with overweight and obesity: A systematic review with meta‐analysis

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of exercise interventions during pregnancy in managing gestational weight gain (GWG), excessive GWG, gestational diabetes (GD), hypertensive disorders, 2‐h post–oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and birth weight in pregnant women with overweight/obesity (OW/OB). Methods: The search strategy was conducted in five electronic databases, restricting to articles published within the past 10 years. Randomized controlled trials comparing exercise intervention with usual prenatal care in pregnant women with OW/OB were considered. Two reviewers extracted data and assessed the risk of bias using version 2 of the Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool for randomized trials and the quality of studies using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation classification. Continuous data were calculated as mean differences (MDs) and dichotomous data as risk ratios (RRs). Results: Seven trials comprising 1648 pregnant women were included. Exercise interventions were associated with lower GWG (MD, −1.19 kg [95% confidence interval, CI, −1.79 to −0.60]) and lower incidence of GD (RR, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.40–0.78]). When analyzing excessive GWG, 2‐h post‐OGTT, birth weight, and hypertensive disorders, there was no statistically significant difference between the exercise and usual care groups. The strength of evidence was considered moderate. Conclusion: Exercise interventions during pregnancy in women with OW/OB were shown to influence GWG and the incidence of GD.